Abstract

In many countries, the operation of the healthcare system is an important political issue and any changes to healthcare provision are often fiercely resisted by many stakeholders and can prove difficult to implement. Such changes to the organization and/or financing of healthcare may be necessitated by factors such as the continuing increase in service demands, the development of new medical science advances and the impact of financial and economic austerity across the globe. This paper considers how well the existing healthcare systems in eleven countries and across several continents are coping with various challenges, and looks at potential best practices. The general conclusion is that many such healthcare systems are unsustainable in the longer term and are in urgent need of reform.